Blakerigg 11/4 @ Ayr

Paul Ferguson has one selection for us on Monday; Blakerigg in the Ayr 14:30. Compare odds and bet.
Nicky Richards invariably sends his nicer young horses to Ayr and he saddles a couple of promising sorts in the opening two contests at the track this afternoon, both of which tackle a short priced favourite trained by Dan Skelton.

First up is Progress Drive who won a bumper here in February, though I suspect he will need a sterner test of stamina in time. In the second race, the EBF National Hunt novices’ hurdle, Blakerigg (2:30) is worth backing at the prices (11-4 overnight).

Again, he comes up against a Skelton ‘hotpot’ who won his sole point, but this five-year-old shaped with distinct promise on debut and, in stark contrast to his soft-ground winning stable-mate in the opener, he appeals as the type to improve for today’s better ground.

A nice moving son of Presenting, he travelled sweetly in a heavy ground Newcastle bumper in March and the third has franked the form, winning twice since. He looks a nice prospect and Richards won the race 12 months ago with Imada.